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Research Article: Capacity Planning of Virtual Wards for Frail and Elderly Patients

Date Published: 2024-02-23

Abstract:
This paper investigates the planning of virtual ward (VW) capacity including the remote monitoring of frail and elderly patients. The main objective is to optimize VW hub locations across a region in the United Kingdom. Furthermore, assigning the optimal number of clinicians to different regions needs to be considered. We develop a mathematical model that minimizes the setup and travel costs of VW hubs and staff. Our experimental analysis evaluates different levels of demand considering postcode areas within different Trusts, also known as Health Boards, in the National Health Service (NHS). Furthermore, our experiments provide insights into how many hub locations should be deployed and staffed. This can be used to individually find the number of remote monitors and clinicians for each facility as well as the system overall.

Introduction:
The healthcare industry is constantly developing as a result of technological breakthroughs, evolving patient requirements, and the pursuit of effective and patient-centred services. In Wales, TEC Cymru, a national digital transformation programme supported by the Welsh Government and accommodated within the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board (ABUHB), was created in response to this technological progress in healthcare. Their main objective is to enable patients to access healthcare more flexibly and…

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